Cardinal Bob
Glutton for Punishment
From today's ESPN Insider...
Q: Mr. Kiper, please tell all Bears fans that even with Kordell Stewart on the roster, Chicago will draft Byron Leftwich. I like Terrell Suggs, but the Bears need a strong-armed, accurate QB to go with the talent they have at wideout. Can Chicago pass up Leftwich even though it needs a pass rusher? -- Chris Layfield, Chicago, Ill.
MEL: I don't think the signing of Kordell Stewart precludes the Bears from taking a young quarterback in this draft. Stewart is a bridge to a young guy, someone who can get them through this year without having to count on a rookie, and then allow them to hand the reins to someone like Byron Leftwich in 2004. If Kordell does the job this year, great. If not, there is someone waiting in the wings to give Chicago hope for next year. It's a no-lose situation for the Bears.
Considering the fact that nearly the entire defense is returning with the exception of Roosevelt Colvin, and that the offensive line will be improved with Mark Columbo going into his second year, Chicago will be in good shape if it can get another cornerback and a solid defensive tackle. But my opinion is that the Bears need to draft a young QB. And if they decide to pass on a quarterback in the first round they could definitely get a solid guy in the second round.
One important thing to note is that Byron Leftwich has medical recheck on April 5 and is working out on April 7, and that will be critical because of his previous leg injury. He didn't run a 40 at the combine and teams are wondering what he is going to do, but I talked to Byron last week and he thinks he will be faster than most people expect. All that will be critical in telling the Bears whether he is worthy of the fourth pick overall.
Q: Mel, if Byron Leftwich is available at No. 6, do you see the Cardinals picking him? If not, do you think they could use their second-rounder for a solid QB like Dave Ragone or Chris Simms? -- Big J, Las Vegas, Nev.
MEL: If I were the Cardinals, I would not take anyone other than a quarterback. They lost David Boston and Jake Plummer but picked up Dexter Jackson and Jeff Blake, plus added some other players to the mix, so they might could look at someone like someone like Terrell Suggs or Dwayne Robertson to shore up the defensive front and hope to make a run.
But I saw Jeff Blake play for the Ravens last year, and to me he is not the answer for Arizona. He will make some big plays in the passing game but will force the ball down the field a lot and doesn't always take care of the football on the center exchange. Blake is also prone to the big mistake late in games, mistakes that take his team out of position for the tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown. He'll look good for three quarters, but that one bad quarter can really hurt his team. I'm not sold on him as a winning starter in the NFL.
The Cardinals probably feel the same way about Blake as the Bears feel about Kordell Stewart. If they can win with him for a year, great, but there is no guarantee he can be a consistent quarterback. The way things shape up right now, Leftwich may be available at No. 6 and I think Arizona would have to take him. If he is healthy, Leftwich is on the same level as Carson Palmer.
Q: Mr. Kiper, please tell all Bears fans that even with Kordell Stewart on the roster, Chicago will draft Byron Leftwich. I like Terrell Suggs, but the Bears need a strong-armed, accurate QB to go with the talent they have at wideout. Can Chicago pass up Leftwich even though it needs a pass rusher? -- Chris Layfield, Chicago, Ill.
MEL: I don't think the signing of Kordell Stewart precludes the Bears from taking a young quarterback in this draft. Stewart is a bridge to a young guy, someone who can get them through this year without having to count on a rookie, and then allow them to hand the reins to someone like Byron Leftwich in 2004. If Kordell does the job this year, great. If not, there is someone waiting in the wings to give Chicago hope for next year. It's a no-lose situation for the Bears.
Considering the fact that nearly the entire defense is returning with the exception of Roosevelt Colvin, and that the offensive line will be improved with Mark Columbo going into his second year, Chicago will be in good shape if it can get another cornerback and a solid defensive tackle. But my opinion is that the Bears need to draft a young QB. And if they decide to pass on a quarterback in the first round they could definitely get a solid guy in the second round.
One important thing to note is that Byron Leftwich has medical recheck on April 5 and is working out on April 7, and that will be critical because of his previous leg injury. He didn't run a 40 at the combine and teams are wondering what he is going to do, but I talked to Byron last week and he thinks he will be faster than most people expect. All that will be critical in telling the Bears whether he is worthy of the fourth pick overall.
Q: Mel, if Byron Leftwich is available at No. 6, do you see the Cardinals picking him? If not, do you think they could use their second-rounder for a solid QB like Dave Ragone or Chris Simms? -- Big J, Las Vegas, Nev.
MEL: If I were the Cardinals, I would not take anyone other than a quarterback. They lost David Boston and Jake Plummer but picked up Dexter Jackson and Jeff Blake, plus added some other players to the mix, so they might could look at someone like someone like Terrell Suggs or Dwayne Robertson to shore up the defensive front and hope to make a run.
But I saw Jeff Blake play for the Ravens last year, and to me he is not the answer for Arizona. He will make some big plays in the passing game but will force the ball down the field a lot and doesn't always take care of the football on the center exchange. Blake is also prone to the big mistake late in games, mistakes that take his team out of position for the tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown. He'll look good for three quarters, but that one bad quarter can really hurt his team. I'm not sold on him as a winning starter in the NFL.
The Cardinals probably feel the same way about Blake as the Bears feel about Kordell Stewart. If they can win with him for a year, great, but there is no guarantee he can be a consistent quarterback. The way things shape up right now, Leftwich may be available at No. 6 and I think Arizona would have to take him. If he is healthy, Leftwich is on the same level as Carson Palmer.
